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Replies to: legacy

it's a really really vague assessment. Penn kind of has a chip on it's shoulder about the whole "legacy" thing. They consider it an insult to the school if a sibling of a student or a child/grandchild of an alumni doesn't apply ED. They won't even look at their app if they just go for the RD round. I think that's so dumb because that means that for legacies and siblings, if they want to have Penn as an option, regardless of whether it's their first choice or not, are pretty much forced to apply ED. But even in today's increasingly competetive applicant pool, plenty of legacy/sibling candidates are denied/deferred ED despite the "preference." It's just such a crapshoot.

Crouton - admissions is not an exact science, so it is impossible to quantify how much legacy status helps during the ED round. I recommend you contact your Regional Director and the Alumni Council on Admissions with any questions you have.

Penn gives you the most preference if you apply ED and have legacy status. If Penn is your first choice and you can afford it, apply ED. If you are a legacy and cannot afford to commit ED due to any number of reasons or if you need RD for 1st semester seinior year grades to improve GPA, it does not hurt you in the admissions. Legacys always get a boost in admissions to schools, but ED gives more of a boost than RD. However, the round you apply in *should* make no difference in your acceptance or rejection.

Penn does say you will get the most consideration for your legacy status in the ED round though...

Penn loves legacies. No one can give you a perfect assessment of what chance you personally have, but at least you know that out of the legions of kids who want in to penn, you have a distinct advantage. for god's sakes, penn has a freaking bridge dedicated to the generations of legacies that have attended penn... and i have to walk through it every day grr

WhartonAdviser: My friend (senior at Wharton) volunteers in admissions and informed me a few months back that legacy applicants MUST apply early in order to receive consideration and yes, that they are not even considered in the regular round if they didn't apply early. His very own sibling was ridiculously qualified for admission to Penn and didn't apply early, and she was outright denied in the spring. Therefore, he confirmed the information I stated earlier. I've also met MANY people who say the same thing. Now, I could be wrong...but you're the first person I've met who has disagreed...just saying...

that doesn't make any sense... penn would be too insulted that a family member didn't apply ED? so untrue... a ton of legacies here right now applied RD and are freshmen here now, in both college and wharton.

it's a gross misrepresentation, does not even make sense how that would benefit penn, and gives people an easy way out when they are rejected in the RD round. "oh penn doesn't take legacies in RD so i guess that's why i didn't get in..." trust me, legacies have it easier in both rounds. my poli sci prof has been on admissions committees for both the college and wharton on and off for decades, so he's seen how the admissions process has grown... (even back when the poli sci department was semi-located in wharton). he says quite bluntly that penn is a huge, huge legacy-loving school and that there is discrimination against asians right now similar to the discrimination against other groups of the past, only less obvious. i have no idea if that's just his opinion or the absolute truth... but it's hard to doubt observations by sheer numbers and a prof who's been here since the 60's...

Rohan, I work in Wharton and serve as the liaison to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. I can assure you from personal experience as a staff member that legacy applicants are considered for admission if they apply during Regular Decision and many are admitted in the RD round. I recommend that you speak with actual full-time staff members if you have questions rather than relying on student workers who do not have an accurate view of the process.

Students are told - as everyone has stated - that legacy carries the most weight in the ED round. Penn is very clear about that. However, that does not mean that legacy candidates are not considered for admission or not admitted during the RD round.

Is there an advantage for legacies to apply Early Decision?
Legacies who apply Early Decision maximize the benefit of their alumni tie. Since Early Decision is binding, however, it is only encouraged to apply early if Penn is the applicant's first choice institution.

Is the legacy tie considered at all during regular decision?
Yes. Family affiliation with Penn is noted in all undergraduate applications - Early Decision, Regular Decision, and Transfer.

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